School Lunch Debt Up Across the Country

Across the county, school lunch debt is increasing for districts as the economy takes a toll on families and their ability to pay. A report in USA Today finds, half of school nutrition directors say they saw an increase in unpaid meals last year, and it's creating a financial burden for school districts. Are Carolina school districts seeing a similar trend?

Schools across the Upstate and Western North Carolina are showing movement in both directions. Some are up. Some are down, but not necessarily because the need is down.
Asheville City School District spokesman Charlie Glazener says the district’s numbers are down because it has better software which can help identify students who qualify for free or reduced lunches more quickly, and they say principals are working hard to collect the debt. Government programs pay for free-or reduced lunch programs but don't make up the difference when parents just don't pay. Vance Elementary Principal Cynthia Sellinger says, “We have a fund that is not paid by the state or the federal government that we have to raise money for." However, she they will never let a student go hungry. “Students will not learn if their vital needs are not met,” says Sellinger.

Around the country, USA Today reports some schools are toughening their policies — limiting students to two or three unpaid meals, creating payment plans and using collection agencies. None of the local school districts which responded to our inquires reporting any similar change in policies.

Upstate and Western Carolina School Lunch Debt:

Buncombe County School District, Jan Blunt, Director of Communications: "Last year Buncombe County schools served over four million meals to our nearly 26,000 students, and had nearly 50% of our students on the federal free/reduced meal program. In the middle of the last school year the amount of money owed by students for their meals had risen to nearly $80,000, but by the end of the year (after sending lots of reminders home) that had come down to around $36,000. We do feed students who come through the lunch line without money, but are continuing to send reminders home when charges start to add up, hoping to keep debt from getting out of hand..." "It's a rolling number, Connie and changes weekly, but it's safe to say that the high of $80k was much higher than usual, and definitely reflected the economy...unemployment in our area has been in double digits for some time. "

Asheville City School District, Elaine Carter, Community Relations: (Asheville featured in video story.) “For the month of September, 2009 the debt was $298.96. For the same month last year the debt was $1,082.76, Our new software has allowed more children to stay on the Free/Reduced Lunch until verifications were completed yesterday making our numbers lower for this year.

Cherokee County School District, Dr. Bill James, Superintendent: “Currently we have outstanding debt of $68,500. Last year the debt ran about $90,000. Our policy has not changed. Our staff does contact parents regarding payment and they do attempt to help parents with free or reduced forms. However in no case do we take trays or deny a child lunch. We do not offer alternative meals since in reality that is an additional expense and unnecessary embarrassment to the student. Our Board has taken the position that it is better to feed children and have the food services program run a deficit than to have children miss lunch.”

Spartanburg School District 1, Dr. Harrison Goodwin, Coordinator of Assessment and Operations: “Our balances are up some but the increases are not significant when you look at the total number of meals served. We have experienced an increase in the number of students who have completed free and reduced lunch applications and have been approved. This may be the result of two different things. The first is that of course there are more families who have been impacted by our current economic situation. The second is that we have been making a very concerted effort this school year and last to encourage parents to complete an application for free and reduced meals. Along with this effort we have assisted our schools in monitoring balances owed so that if they see a student’s balance going up they can speak with the family to see if their economic situation has changed. If it has, they can again encourage them to complete a new free and reduced application. Finally it is worth noting that in our district we offer free breakfast to all of our children in all of our schools.

Spartanburg School District 2, Dr. Scott Mercer, Superintendent: “FYI. We have begun to encourage prepayment and started accepting debit/credit cards online which has helped. At the elementary and middle school level, children may charge up to $10, then we provide the alternate meal of a sandwich fruit and milk. For situations such as job loss, we encourage parents to complete an F/R lunch application. “

Spartanburg School District 3, Greg Mack, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations:

• There is no appreciable difference between where we ended in 2008-09 and where we are at present regarding food service receivables, outside of the normal fluctuations between the time balances are accrued and the time they are paid.
• There is no appreciable difference between free lunch qualifiers this year as compared to last, although what difference there is would be slightly on the up side.
• We made a concerted effort at the beginning of last year which increased the number of applications filed, but did not significantly increase qualifiers.
• We have had no policy changes from last year to this, but we are concentrating on the collections portion of our policy more so this year, merely to ensure timely payment so that parents do not fall behind.
• If anything, our balances are lower now due to our efforts to bring attention to the issue.
• We make every effort to work with parents when situations warrant a payment plan or other accommodation to ensure lunch balances get paid.

“I hope this helps. I am sure that receivables are an issue in many places. We have found that communications with parents and the willingness to work with them individually within the framework of our policies have greatly enhanced our ability to keep our receivables to a minimum.”

Spartanburg School District 4, Carl Simpkins, Assistant Business Manager:

“Average Comparison of School Lunch Debt in Spartanburg District #4:
October 2008 $7,192.05
October 2009 $5,407.18.
District #4 Guidelines:
1. No child is denied a standard meal by the district.
2. Cashiers at the district work with the students, parents, and administration
to collect debt.
3. Notification letters are sent when money needs to be applied to the student's account. If the notification letter does not help with payment, a follow-up phone call is made to the home.
4. Federally subsidized free and reduced meal applications are sent to every
household in the district prior to the beginning of school. Help is available
at registration to assist and encourage students and their families
to complete a meal application. Applications are also made available on the
District #4 website and can be completed anytime during the school year.
5. Free and reduced meal applications are down slightly from this time last year.
Oct. ’09 – 750
Oct. ’08 – 791
We continue to encourage families who are eligible to apply.
6. Our current full pay prices are $1.40 for Primary and Elementary / $1.50 for Middle and High School. No increase in the last 2 years.”

Spartanburg School District 5, Dr. Scott Turner, Superintendent: "Spartanburg District Five has actually had a decrease in the amount owed for lunches over the past year. Our schools have worked closely with parents to monitor lunch debt and we have encouraged those who qualify to complete free or reduced price lunch applications. The number of students who are receiving free or reduced price meals has increased. Our lunch debt last year was $21,941.37. Our outstanding lunch debt this year is $16,390.84. We do provide an alternate meal for children who have a lunch debt. No students are denied a meal based on their debt."

Spartanburg School District 6, Cynthia Robinson, Director of Public Relations: "The trend over the last three years is that we have more outstanding balances for lunch and breakfast with year-end averages of $35,219. We do not serve alternative meals for students with outstanding balances. We have not changed our policy in relation to student meals. We are allowing online bill pay and online notification for low balances. More parents are carrying a balance and paying with this service. Our free and reduced count over the past three years has increased."

Spartanburg School District 7, Russell Booker, Superintendent-Elect: “In October 2006 our balances were approximately $13,000. Our current balance is $9,200 “

Laurens School District 55, Lisa Wilson: “Outstanding charges in District 55 are consistent with what we've had in previous years. We are able to collect the majority of charges before the end of each school year. If charges do remain, they are rolled over on the student's account the following year. Our policy
has not changed in the last few years. We are currently at 65% of students on free and reduced lunch.”

Anderson School District One, Debbie Joye, CNC, Director of Student Nutrition Services: “Anderson School District has not seen an increase in student debt this year so far. We have had an increase in children qualifying for free and reduced meals by 7% from this time last year.”